1970s Important News and Events, Key Technology Fashion and Popular Culture

The Seventies saw massive inflation world wide much of it caused by the Oil Crisis in the Middle East, Digital Technology is seen for the first time in consumer products including the first calculator, as technology advanced the range and function of home appliances improved, The Vietnam War ends and the Cold War gets Colder. .

Money and Inflation 1970's

To provide an estimate of inflation we have given a guide to the value of $100 US Dollars for the first year in the decade to the equivalent in today's money
If you have $100 Converted from 1970 to 2005 it would be equivalent to $517.65 today
In 1970 a new house cost $23,400.00 and by 1979 was $58,500.00
In 1970 the average income per year was $9,350.00 and by 1979 was $17,550.00
In 1970 a gallon of gas was 36 cents and by 1979 was 86 cents
In 1970 the average cost of new car was $3,900.00 and by 1979 was $5,770.00

1979

After being exiled for fifteen years, Ayatollah Khomeini returns to power in Iran.

The Walkman is introduced by Sony.

Michael Jackson's debut solo album "Off the Wall" is released.

Rhodesia becomes Zimbabwe after the country's first black-led government in 90 years takes power.

Other Major Events From The 70's

The oil crisis in 1973 was caused when Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), during the Yom Kippur War, announced that they would no longer ship petroleum to nations that had supported Israel in its conflict with Syria and Egypt , to the United States and its allies in Western Europe. It was also announced that the price for Oil would increase drastically. The west was by now dependent on oil and together with prices quadrupling and measures for rationing the western world went into recession and suffered massive inflationary pressure. At that time the United States did have their own oil reserves and although they were affected the biggest impact was on European Economies .

After nearly 10 years of war in Vietnam 1973 was also the year that allied forces pulled out of Vietnam

Another significant factor in the 70's was the growth in women's rights and women's role in society including the ability to decide when where and if they wished to have children ( partly through the availably of the contraceptive pill )

President Richard Nixon was forced to resign on 8th August as president of the United States due to imminent impeachment related to the Watergate scandal.

With the continuing Cold War between the East and West the arms race continued with each side trying to find the ultimate weapon

1970's Mens and Womens and Childrens Fashion Clothes

Visit Our Seventies Fashion Section
Seventies clothes and fashions included many of the styles worn today in modified forms but also some very short lived examples that when we look at wonder how and why we ever wore them.
Below are four examples From our new updated Prices for clothes and fashions in the 70's section where we have included over 200 examples of Ladies, Mens and Children's Fashion Clothes and Accessory examples organized by year including dresses, boots, shoes and much more take a little time to browse through them. Take a little trip back in time to the clothes of your youth and have a smile or feel nostalgic

Childrens Toys From The 1970's

The popular toys at of the decade were The New Digital Based Toys and Computers including Simon and the development of the Atari computer and gaming system. Other Popular toys also included Hot Wheels For Boys and Barbie For Girls, with space, music and pop culture toys also popular.

Seventies Cars

1970's cars and some of the advertising from cars in the 70's the prices are drastically different due to 10 year timespan where inflation was pretty bad
Datsun 1200 Sports Coupe parking is a breeze only $1866.00
Ford Torino Special Trim inside and Out with a vinyl roof
Toyota Corona $1,950.00 quality from thousnads of tests and solid construction
AMC Matador Mid Size family car with sweeping clean lines and low profile
Monte Carlo 1975 for when a car makes you feel good about its looks thats styling
Plymouth Arrow prices start at $3,175.00 and 39mpg highway 24mpg city due to its aerodynamic design and all this from the trusted name of Crysler

Sporting Changes In The 70's

Baseball
Players go on strike in 1972 the first players strike in sports history.
Players gain free agency after 6 years allowing them to demand higher wages.
Hank Aaron breaks the legendary Babe Ruths Record and sets a new record of 755 home runs in 1974 which stood for 30 more years Basketball
The ABA or American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association NBA agree to merger accepting 4 new teams into the NBA Denver, New York, San Antonio and Indiana.
At the end of the 70's two major changes in the game happened 1. ESPN and 2. three point line added. Find out more on our History of Basketball PageAssociation Football (Soccer)
Television Increases the Popularity of the game to new heights.
Red and Yellow Cards Introduced
German and British clubs rule European Football for ten years from 1974 to 1984 American Football
Division I, Division II and Division III set up in college football
The Steelers, Dolphins, Raiders, Vikings, Cowboys and Rams Dominate Respective Divisions
NFL extended its regular season to 16 gamesIce Hockey
WHA teams join the NHL
First Summit Series played
Bobby Orr and Boston Bruins win Stanley Cup
Soviets Dominate World Championships and Olympics

Technology

The 70's were the start in many ways of the Electronics and digital revolution, with the invention of transistors and Integrated Circuits in the late 60's, companies now found ways to use the technology which caused the phenomenal growth in smaller more powerful and cheaper products ranging from Calculators to Televisions.

The decade also saw the beginning of the Home Computer due to Intel creating the first cheap microprocessor - the Intel 4004, and other integrated circuits. In the beginning the computers were mainly for the hobbyists and included the Apple II, the TRS-80, the Commodore PET, and Atari 400/800 and with the growth of these home computers Bulletin Boards became a popular way for people to find others with similar interests

The first use of card access Electronic Locks appear

As people realized the power of these new home computers a new use was found and that was the beginning of the video game . When we look at those games now we see how basic they were but the technology available and the understanding of what could be done limited those early games.

With the invention earlier of the microwave oven and now the capability to manufacturer and sell cheaply many homes adopted the technology in their kitchens

Due in part to the increased use of the 747 a Jumbo Jet able to carry large numbers of passengers across continents air travel booms and causes new problems with pollution, delays and air traffic control

Inventions The Year Invented Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )

Popular Culture 1970s

The Waterbed The 70's produced many icons , one of those being the modern waterbed created by Charles Hall in 1968, This was fueled by the sexual revolution of the Decade encompassing the Waterbed .

Music

From Our Seventies Music Page

Progressive rock created a new generation of bands including Genesis, Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Pink Floyd. Many other singers and bands also started or strengthened their fan base including The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Queen, Black Sabbath .

In Europe, the music was not as progressive from bands like T Rex, Gary Glitter and David Bowie, and bands like Slade and the Sweet. and possibly the most successful in the 70's being ABBA

Some of the Most Well Known Movie Stars of the Seventies
Paul Newman
Robert Redford
Clint Eastwood
John Wayne
Burt Reynolds
Al Pacino
Woody Allen
Barbra Streisand

Seventies Homes

Example of a home from our Property for sale in the 1970's
1963 New Homes Lowell Massachusetts
large tree wooded plots, colored bath and kitchen fixtures, full basement Formica kitchen 3 bedrooms From $15,500 Electrical Home Goods
As technology improved the range and sophistication of home appliances offered much greater freedom and uses including "Time Saving Devices", plus as you can see for the second example some items had a 70's look and feel all of their own. But Color TV's still have a long way to go The Latest and Cinema Screen Color TV costing close to $800 in todays money about $4,000. Not included on these examples but can be found on the page are the latest music playing devices including an Eight Track Tape Player and an example of a solid-state Three Speed Record deck and speakers. From Our 1970's Home Appliances PageHomes and Furniture From The Seventies
It is interesting looking at the furniture and fixtures you might find in a home from each decade, below are just two examples I found interesting from the more than 20 we have included on our
Home furnishing examples with descriptions and Prices Page